Luanda, Angola – In a historic match commemorating Angola's 50th anniversary of independence, Lionel Messi led Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Angola, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career. The Argentinian captain scored his first-ever goal on African soil, adding another unique achievement to his long list of accomplishments.
The international friendly, held at the packed Estádio 11 de Novembro in Luanda, saw Argentina, ranked second in the world, pitted against Angola, who are 87 places below them. The match drew a crowd of over 50,000 spectators, eager to witness the World Champions in action and celebrate their nation's golden jubilee. Argentina were reportedly paid $12 million to play in the match.
The game began with an energetic start from Angola, who pressed high and created some early chances. Chico Banza almost caught Argentinian goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli off guard, but Rulli managed to tip the ball away. Despite Angola's spirited efforts, Argentina's experience and quality gradually began to show. In the 19th minute, Messi nearly opened the scoring, but Angola's 39-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Marques made a superb save. Messi uncharacteristically missed another opportunity, sending a side-footed shot off-target.
Just before halftime, Messi delivered a precise pass to Lautaro Martínez, who skillfully slotted the ball past Marques to give Argentina a 1-0 lead. It was Martínez's 36th international goal.
In the second half, Angola continued to fight, seeking an equalizer. However, in the 82nd minute, Messi sealed the victory with a goal of his own. After regaining possession, Messi fired a shot into the far corner of the net, extending Argentina's lead to 2-0. The goal marked Messi's 115th international goal in 196 appearances. He was subbed off to a standing ovation in the final minutes.
Argentina made several substitutions throughout the second half, with players like Maximo Perrone, Jose Manuel Lopez, and Joaquin Panichelli getting valuable playing time. Angola also made changes, but they were unable to find a way back into the match.
The match served as Argentina's final fixture of 2025. Argentina had to compete in South American qualifiers to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup, despite being the title holders. They topped the standings with 38 points, having won 12 matches, drawn two, and lost four. Angola, who last appeared in the World Cup in 2006, failed to qualify for the upcoming tournament.
The victory in Luanda not only celebrated Angola's independence but also highlighted Lionel Messi's enduring brilliance and his continued ability to achieve new milestones.
